The actress recently told Access Hollywood that she is proud of the way that her series deals with diversity.

"What's important to me is that the show represents diversity on so many levels," Washington said.

"When you look at the cast on our show, you see diversity with regard to ethnicity, with regard to gender, sexual orientation, with regard to age, with regard to race - and that, to me, is what's most important."

She continued: "That a show that represents the full spectrum of humanity, or that attempts to get close to representing the full spectrum of humanity, that that show could be so celebrated? That's what I'm most proud of."

Washington also discussed how her own character Olivia Pope's African-American heritage is portrayed in Scandal.